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Wednesday, May 17, 2017

What's wrong with Yeoh being Christian, asks Amanah

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) today defended DAP's Subang Jaya asssemblyperson, following allegations that she is proselytising Muslims through her book "Becoming Hannah".

"To me, Hannah Yeoh is a Christian person who wants to do good and to show the positive values in the religion she follows.

"Just like those of other faiths, be they Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus and even Muslims. I am sure all religions teach their followers universal values which are good," Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added that Yeoh did not do any wrong when she articulated how her faith has given her values which she practices as an elected representative.

Universiti Utara Malaysia lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff today lodged a police report alleging that the Selangor speaker's book had breached the enactment barring the proselytisation of non-Islamic religions to Muslims.

He said by speaking about her journey in terms of her faith and referring to herself as an "ambassador of God", Yeoh was trying to encourage Muslims towards Christianity.

However, Salahuddin said her actions only showed that she is a good Christian and that her faith has driven her to be a politician with integrity.

"We must be fair to her by looking at how she has performed as an assemblyperson, a speaker and a politician," he said at the Amanah headquarters.

He added that Yeoh has the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

"Islam as a religion too celebrates and acknowledges the rights of those of different faiths to practice their religion peacefully," he said.

On Monday, Yeoh lodged a police report against Kamarul Zaman, for allegedly defaming her and DAP by accusing them of driving a "Christian agenda".

Following this, PAS research centre director Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki urged DAP to respond to a book authored by New Zealand academic Iain Buchanan.

The book mentioned the DAP and named Yeoh in a section on "Christian dominionism" efforts in Malaysia.- Mkini